Ventura County Focus | WEST COUNTY / SANTA PAULA

Unidentified Man Shoots at Bicyclist

An 18-year-old Santa Paula man was unharmed after being shot at while riding his bicycle on Palm Avenue this week, but was arrested on suspicion of bike theft.

Witnesses told Santa Paula police officers that they saw an unidentified man shoot a handgun six times at the bicyclist near the intersection of Palm Avenue and Santa Anna Street at 9:25 p.m. Wednesday.

Both the suspect and the bicyclist fled before police arrived.

Police found Robert Vasquez at 9:50 p.m. and arrested him in an unrelated bicycle theft. Authorities said the owner of that bike was not involved in the shooting.

Vasquez could not identify the gunman or provide a reason for the shooting, police said. He was booked into jail and released on his own recognizance.